The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-26
The Democrats Persist in Their Support OF
theArbitrary Unseating of Mcdonald and
Protection of a Man Not Elected.
A Perfunctory Proceeding in the Joint
Convention with No Result.
The Representatives Use the Day for Intro
ducing Bils-A Detail of the Merits of
Some of Them-NOtes on Legislation.
POLITICS IN THE SENATE.

The Minority Have Another Chance to Place
the Majority Record.
The Republicans in the Senate are not averse
to making the best use of an opportunity in scor
ing the Democratic majority by searching re-
view of it's political offenses. On account Of
Senator Smiths unfriendly disposition, excited
by the jackson county citizens, irrespective OF
party. denouncing his majority's action relative
to the summary upseating of Senator Mcdonald,
the min GRITTY did not progress very far in this
1audable purpose. But nights rest had barely
refreshed the majority, always ardent in pro-
secting its record in politics, good bad before
the Republicans afforded Senator Smith and his
servitors another golden chance to rise superior
30 party needs Yesterday morning they caused
a surprise by sending to the Secretary, to be
read the minority report as to the proceedings
in the so.caled contest against Senator McDon-
aid. There are occasions when Democrat
thinks the burden of partisan injustice is too
onerous, and Is inclined to rest himself by
dropping it for the time being. 1t was in one Of
these moods yesterday that the majority made
no violent opposition to the reading of an ex-
haustive analysis Of the evidence from which
were drawn the wrongful conclusions in the in
terest of Branaman, the contestor who, by nm
paralleled robbery of the right Of defense, pro-
cured an ostensible privilege to vote for the
Democratic candidate for United States Senator.
While every line of the report tacitly conveyed
singing irony on the tyrannical unseatng of
Senator Mcdonald, it was heard with patience
by some of the majority The larger number.
though, listened to it with indifference. Brana-
man, it is true did not enjoy it. but the certainty
Of his party giving him support when the time
came enabled him to keep his nerve. He could
not conceal that the thought uppermost with
him was that place outside Of tho chamber
would be more comfortable than the seat he &C.
cupied in the last row on the Republican side.
He did not have the nearness Of Democrat, ex-
cept In sympathy, to alay the discomfit of his
situation. The report did not sugar
coat its review of the pretended facts
upon which Senator Med onald was heartlessly
driven from the Senate. 1t went further and
gave without coloring the pre-eminent fact that
if Senator Mcdonald is ineligible on such pre-
posterous testimony as rumor, so is Branaman,
for witnesses whose evidence for the defense was
fully detailed showed that everybody believed
Branaman used money in his canvass. Some
testified that they had been offered money, the
their votes and services for Branaman. But in
Its conclusion the minority took the constitu-
tionai ground that no matter if Mcdonald was
disqualified, which the report did not admit,
there was no statutory or constitutional law en-
titlng Branaman TO the right to represent people
who had defeated him at the polls.
At the conclusion of the reading Senator Dres-
ser. who, with Senator Sears, presented the mi
nority report, moved that the resolution depriv-
inc Branaman of his seat be adopted. 'And, "
he rncA ttxuhon hn Chair hAc cd a
motion | desire the privilege of the floor" Sem
ator Griffith tried Immediately to Offset this
by moving to amend that the re-
port be made the special order
across the path of the Democrats q chance to
retire from the field of assumed fairness. but
nobody, seemingly had the courage to push it.
The amendment was questioned as being out OF
order by Senators Huston and Winters, because
Senator Dresser had not yielded the floor ex-
cept to Senator Smith to state the motion to
adopt the resolution. Senator Smith, although a
protesting spirit arose held that Senator Dresser
should have the floor. after that will recog-
nze the Senator from Switzerland" he re-
marked He then renew his motion to
amend" Senator Dresser made forcible argu
ment, and Senator Griffith, at its conclusion,
did not let minute slip in offering again his
motion to postpone the discussion until Thurs
day, Feb 3. Senator Winters went at this
attempt for delay with vigorous objection. He
characterized it unprecedented in parlia
people to continue to represent them. ''This
motion is for the purpose, he continued, "o1
keeping Branaman here ten days more to vote
for United States Senator, and that, too, after
he has so voted without right for the
past two weeks. It is sought to pu
the question off two weeks more, when a
discussion Of the report will do no possible good
If the majority wishes Mr.. Branaman to sit il
this body let it assume the responsibility at once
Let the majority which has the power but no
the right to keep him in the Senate do it nov
and not run up the white fac in seeking to d.
two weeks hence what it can do now.
HAS not the majority" asked Senator Fow
ler ALREADY taken that responsibilities
Eyes," replied Senator Winter, hut why doe
II refuse TO 40 it again at this timer
"Was it not understood in the compact" asket
Senator French. "under which the joint conveu
ton Is held that the roll should remain undis
turbed as it stood Tuesday, Jan. 1877
II understood that compact" said Senato
Winter, Ito relate only to the first days join
convention knew the provisions but did no
agree to them. but the last line providing tina
the compact should continue until Senator wa
elected knew nothing of until it was read il
the Joint convention
In any possible future argument on the repor
Senator DeMotte asked that an hour be given
each side, and it being put in the form of a
amendment. no protest was made, but whe
Senator johnson sought to have the argumen
thus divided take place tomorrow afternoon tn
majority again reduced its ostensible fairness
minimum. 1t would consent to an equal d
vision of time. but no debate could occur unit
the hour and day fixed in the amendment of Sci
ator Griffith. 1t was the opinion Of Senate
Bassett that too much talk had already been il
duged in relative to political questions. 'Ti
entire morning" he said has been used in rea
ing the report and two weeks certainly shou
be given members to study it." He did not r
mind the Senators though that when the repo
against Senator Mcdonald was read the maio
ity rushed it through to final vote with VIII
and spur, notwithstanding the appeals of Il
minority for a delay of enc day only in ord
that what 1t had to say could be heard also in =
port before argument began. He did not reci
the statement of Senator Bailey tn
had the minority been as industrious as the m
iority. there would be need for delay. nor d
ne suggest that the inability OF the minority
keen even with the majority in the presentatiS
Of this case was attributed. partly, to the cler
Of the committee, who said IL would beimpossit
in hahalf nf d.fep